Love MUST Be Sincere

I heard this last week at a cousin's wedding. It was the focus of the minister's meditation based on a verse from Romans 12. There was a part of me that wanted to say "Duh"! But as I learned more of what "sincere" means, it hit me that sincerity is what I am aiming for in my house lately. Why just say "I Love You"? It is time to "mean it".

The minister described being sincere by taking us back to an earlier version of this text. To be sincere means not to dissimulate. Yep... I was lost too until he explained it with a couple of analogies. To be dissimulated means to make it look like the real thing. For instance, test pilots use simulators to test out their skills or test new equipment. Astronauts work in simulators until launch day to make sure their skills meet the necessary requirements. Training runs get me prepared physically for a race, but speak nothing to my mindset or adrenaline that I have pumping through me when actually running in a race on race day.
All of these have the appearance of the real thing. Dissimulation is merely a show. There is no what ifs in a simulator. There is no depth of understanding when just going through the motions. There is no chance at growth. There is no need for working through stress or tension when trying something out or going for a test run.

With these thoughts in my head, I have been trying to look for ways to demonstrate my sincere (honest, whole hearted, unadulterated) love for my family. While I do not necessarily question my sincerity, I do wonder if the depth of my love for them is evident by the things I do. I have a tendency to let David pick up my slack when he is around. I have often joked that he is a better housekeeper than I am. It is true, but in some respects it does not have to be so. Why shouldn't he come home to a house that has at least been picked up or, dare I even say, vacuumed? When we were first married I made his lunches, but somewhere along the way I got bored with it. And I stopped altogether. Believe me when I say that for the last few years I have felt bad for him as I watched him race around the kitchen trying to throw something together as I "watched". It wasn't until a few months ago that I resumed this "chore" only for the simple reason that I wanted to show him I truly loved him and appreciated the sacrafices he makes for the kids and myself. Now I know I could be doing a WHOLE LOT more for the man besides a picked up house and a sack lunch. But if I did not start with the little things, where would I start?

And how do I love my kids sincerely? I am trying to make "more time" for them. I should not be "too busy" to rock with one, talk about one's day, pretend with them, or even stand outside of the bedroom door and listen to them play. Maybe even try to not jump down their throats when something goes wrong. Listen before I speak and love through my discipline. This is what I want to have them remember me for and not necessarily the ogre I can often be. I need to take a lesson from God who may want to reach down and throttle me from time to time, but instead guides me with His gentle hand and spirit.

The little things need to be evident in following my savior as well. Do I consciously make time for Him in prayer? Do I pay attention when I read His word? Do I search for deeper meanings or try to make the connections in living out His directives? Do I watch the world around me for better ways to serve Him and my neighbor? Sincerity should not be my second nature. God created me to be like Him-- His was an unstinting devotion that took on the nature of a servant to show the depths of his love. Anything less would allow me the hope of a life in heaven with Him. By practicing sincerity in little ways (but also in ALL ways), I am hoping that very little is dissimulated in me.